Explanation:
Sometimes, after your eyes adapt to the dark, a spectacular sky appears.
Such was the case earlier this month when one of the
largest auroral displays in recent years appeared over northern locations like the border between Norway and Russia.
Pictured in the above time-lapse movie, auroras flow over snow covered landscapes, trees, clouds, mountains and lakes found near
Kirkenes,
Norway.
Many times the auroras are green, as high energy particles strike the
Earth's atmosphere, causing the air to glow as electrons recombine with their
oxygen hosts.
Other colors are occasionally noticeable as atmospheric nitrogen also becomes affected.
In later sequences the Moon and rising stars are also visible.
With the Sun expected to become ever more active over the next few years, there may be many
opportunities to see similarly
spectacular auroras
personally, even from areas much
closer to the equator.